the_debt_of_time

How strange it is to write a letter to someone who is supposed to be dead. You've been gone for
almost two years now, and it still doesn't feel like it's real. Which, I suppose it's not because you're not
really gone, are you? Are you? I learnt some funny things about house-elves this week. First, house-elves
call their Masters and Mistresses only by that title, referring to others by their titles followed by names to
differentiate. Did you know that even though Tilly calls James, 'Master', she refers to me as 'Mistress
Lily'? My curious nature got the better of me, and I asked our favourite little elf why that was, and she
informed me that a house-elf only takes on a new Master or Mistress when it is either freed or its previous
Master or Mistress dies. Surprised, I asked, 'But Tilly, even though I don't care to be your official Mistress
if you don't want me to be, you do know that Mia died, don't you?' And do you know what our favourite
little elf told me? A fantastical story about a witch I once knew, a Time-Turner, and a letter from a
werewolf.
Oh, Mia. Is it true? I want it to be true. I asked Tilly for proof because it seems just insane. She
said she didn't know where the supposed letter was, but that she had read it before and recited it to me from
memory. I asked her why she hadn't said anything to any of us before now, and she says that, dead or not,
people needed to mourn you because you were gone, even if one day you would come back.
I want you to come back. I'd like to wait for you to come back. But I don't think I'll see you
again, will I?
The letter Tilly recited to me from memory never mentioned James or myself. Remus wrote it, but
he only talked about Sirius, so I can only assume that sometime between now and then, we die. I think...
I think I'm okay with that. Do you know why that is, dear sister of mine and fellow descendant of the
magically disinclined? Because Tilly says that Harry lives.
Oh, Mia. I can't even begin to tell you how worried I've been. This war is horrible, and I've been
nothing but a mess of nerves, forcing myself to try and enjoy motherhood as I'm supposed to, but instead I
feel like an anxious lioness, hovering over her cub and searching in the shadows for predators. Knowing that
he makes it out of this war has taken the weight of the world from my shoulders."
Mia tore her focus away from the letter briefly to wipe at the tears that were
obscuring her vision, fearing they would drip onto the parchment and smudge the ink of
Lily's familiar handwriting. She smiled when she felt Harry's hand on her shoulder.
"Keep reading," he pleaded.
"Mia, I wish you could see this little boy. The Potter hair and the brightest green eyes in the world.
He looks so very sweet and innocent when cuddled in my arms or riding James's shoulders, but you know
the very moment that Sirius walks into the room, Harry's eyes light up, and I can just see trouble. The